Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-23

A Thousand Negro Homes.


There is great difference of opinion
as TO whether or not the colored people of
the South are making any moral, mate
rial and intellectual advancement. This
difference OF opinion is due largely to the
difference IN the points Of observation. In
some localities the condition Of the col
ored people ia no better than it was 20
years ago, while in others their progress
is very marked. Acsreful and impartial
investigation will show that generally
they are becoming more intelligent, that
their morals are improving and that they
are acquiring considerable property.
They have not acquired sufficient prop
erty aud influence in any community to
be taken into consideration as factor In
its material development. The indica-
tons are, however, that at some time in
the future there Will be prominent tax
payers among them, and they will exer-
else considerable influence in local af-
f IS. Even now it is not unusual to hear
lG stated in many of the counties of this
STATE that the number of the cOlOred tax
payers ls gradually increasing. Doubt
less the same thing is heard in many of
the other Southern States.
There is no doubt that the colored peo-
pie have great deal to contend with in
their struggle to improve their condition.
Without anything in their past history to
be proud of, and without anything very
promising, apparently, In the future to
inspire them with courage and hope, it is
rather remarkable that they are doing as
well as they are. Having all the draw
backs which are attached to ignorance to
contend with, 1t is not surprising that
their advancement is slow. There are not
wanting individual instances of thrift
among them, which would serve as excel
lent examples for class OF white people
found in not few localities in the South.
very considerable portion the pOpu-
lation OfSavannah is cOlOred. What pro.
gress the colOred people have made,
and what they have done toward
securing homes since they be
gan to look out for them
selves, can be easily seen by visiting the
city's suburbs. For years they have been
quiet but persistent purchasers of real
estate. Their settlements, just without
the municipal limits, almost encircle the
city. 1t must not be supposed that all of
their houses are mere snanties. Some of
them are quite pretenuOus, and are sur
rounded by well kept gardens.
These homes were not paid for in year
or two, but represent the pro.
ceeds Of years of patient toll and the most
rigid economy. On some of them there
are still mortgages, which there Is not
much doubt will be paid in time. 1t is a
fact worth noticing that very few colored
men fail to meet the payments on their
homes, ana when they do there is always
good cause for the failure. And there
is another fact worth noticing. 1t is that
they pay their taxes willingly and return
their property above, rather than below,
its market value. They are not yet suf-
ticiently civilized TO be tax dod gers,
Those of them who bought lots few
years ago were quite fortunate in their
purchases. The lots are now worth all the
way from three to ten times as much as
was paid for them, Many of the lots which
were bought for 500 could now be sold
readily for $1,000. Within two miles of
the court house in this city there are now
as many as 1000 pieces OF real estate
owned by colored people. This certainly
looks as If they we're making some pro
gress. The white people are glad to see
their material improvement, and are
always ready to lend them such assist
ance as they can afford.